Joey Votto issued a bold Elly De La Cruz statement.
Cincinnati Reds legend Joey Votto has remained active in MLB since retiring back in 2024, routinely appearing on MLB Network to discuss his favorite players and offering commentary on social media.
Votto has also mentioned his openness to returning to Cincinnati in an executive role, even putting his name out there for the president of baseball operations position. Nick Krall currently holds it, but given how disappointing this season has been with the Reds sitting at 69-77 and last in the NL Central just one year after making the playoffs, the organization could consider going in a different direction.
It would not be the first time a franchise legend returned in a front office capacity, as Buster Posey did the same thing and currently serves as president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants.
For now though, Votto is simply a fan of the game after spending 17 years in the big leagues and logging over 2,000 games. During his final season he got to play alongside one of the brightest young stars in baseball in shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who debuted in June of 2023.
De La Cruz had an impressive series to open the week against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds were still swept though in three games.
He homered in all three games, extending his home run streak to five games, and showed off his incredible arm on a relay throw to home plate that topped 100 mph on a perfect strike to cut down a Dodgers baserunner. Votto saw his performance and decided to make a bold claim. "We'll take our 5-tool ⭐️ over yours going forward, @Cubs," Votto wrote on X.
Votto is referring to Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, the NL MVP frontrunner. Although Crow-Armstrong is arguably the best player in baseball this season, posting a .281 batting average, .375 on-base percentage and .948 OPS while also grading out as an elite defender in center field with 11 more stolen bases than De La Cruz, there is still a legitimate argument about which player has the brighter future.
De La Cruz has been exceptional from the moment he stepped foot on the big-league level, posting a .283 batting average, .362 on-base percentage and .873 OPS this year while playing elite shortstop defense and showcasing the kind of raw athleticism that only a handful of players in the sport possess.
It is also worth noting that Votto spent his entire career watching the Reds battle the Cubs in the NL Central, a rivalry with real history behind it. That competitive edge clearly has not faded with retirement.
